Ore-concentrator.



P. A. HARDWIGK.

ORE GONGENTRA'IOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1905.

PATBNTED OCT. 9, 1906.

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P. A. HARDW'IGK. ORE GONGENTRATOR. APPLICATION FILED mmz WITNESSES: 9 1

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To all whom it may concern.-

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PENTON A; HARDWICK, OF COLORADO CITY, COLORADO, ASSIGNORTO THE ACME GOLD SAVER MANUFACTURING MINING COMPANY, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, A, CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed May 22, 1905. Serial No. 261,591.

Be it known that I, PEN'roN A. HARDWIOK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Colorado, City, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved OreConcentrator,'of which. the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to apparatus for concentrating ore, its principal object being to provide an effective concentrator which is especially adapted for the saving of float values.

through on the line 2 f Fig. 1.

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the receiving end of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section there Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line '3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation of a portion of; one of the supporting-rolls. Fig. 5 is a broken top plan view of the end of one of the Fig. 6 is a transverse section throughv one of the rifile-seotions. Fig. 7 is a similar view through another section. Fig. 8 shows inside elevation a concentrator comprising 'a plurality of trough-sections. Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section through one of the supporting-rolls; and Fig. 10 is a detail in top plan view, particularly illustrating the binding upon'the end of one of the floatmetal-catching devices. I

I have here illustrated a frame A, preferably formed of tubular members tosecure lightness andstrength, this comprising uprights 10, connected by cross-bars 11. Upon the uprights move clamps 12, having thumbnuts 13, by which they may be fixed in place,

between which clamps supporting-bars 14 extend across the frame near each end. Carried by the 'suppo'rtingbars is a trough-section 15, having at one extremity a widened portion 16, to which the material to be opering sections, which may consist of side bars 17, connected by cross-bars 18, these carrying a layer of screen material 19 and being of trough shape. Within the screen is a layer of fibrous material 20such as carpet, blanket, or burlapand covering this at the opposite side from the screen 19 is a layer of similar screen material 21. These sections form, with a cleat 22 at the end of the trough-section, a dead-water space, in which the finer material passing throughthe layers constituting the riflles will have an opportunity to settle to the bottom of the trough with but little disturbance. trough-section, adjacent to the cleat, is a transverse depression 23, and at each end of this, through the side of the trough, is an opening controlled by a valve 24, this allowing the accumulated finer concentrates to be with the movement of the supporting-bars'for the first section. Each of'the trough-sections may have near its end a valve 28, corresponding to the valve 24 previously described, and that the last section which is used delivers to a tank 29, the outlet from which may be provided with a screen 30 to assist in retaining any float material which might escape.

A portion. of the rifHe-seotion's, preferably those near the discharge end of the trough, have upon their under'surfaces plates 31, of corrugated material, these corrugations extending longitudinally of the trough. These plates serve to support the rifiie-sections and prevent their sagging at the center, as they might do if the trough were of considerable Width, and also furnish a plurality of contracted passages through which the rate of flow is accelerated, thus aiding in dislodging the concentrates when they are to be removed. To retain the riflie-sections in place, clips may be applied to them and to the sides of the trough-sections, these clips including grasping-arms 31 and a connecting-spring portion 31 clamps 12.

cross-bars 41.

The gangue tails over the top of the last riffle section in the lower trough section, where it may be allowed to flow to the dump. At the opposite end of the apparatus over each of the channels is a nozzle 31, connected with a supply-pipe 31 This may be used to wash out the trough whenever the accumulation of concentrates renders this desirable,

the flow being controlled by valves 31 adj acent to the nozzles.

Situated above the trough is a device for saving float metals. This is here shown as comprising a tank 32, extending for a considerable portion of the len th of the first trough-section and being substantially equal in width to one of its channels. From this tank rise pairs of hangers 32 having openings to receive rods 32 which are supported upon clamps 33, mounted upon the frame uprights and preferably being-similar to the At each end of the tank are pairs of brackets 34, in which are ournaled transverse shafts 35 of supporting rolls. These rolls each have opposite heads 36, connected by hollow cylindrical body portions 37, through which are slots 33. Within each .of these rolls is a filling 39 of some such .fibrous material as cotton-waste.

Over the supporting-rolls operates a belt which may consist of separated bands 40, connected by Secured at their ends, at in tervals along the outside of the belt, through binding or reinforcing strips 42, are loose sections 43 of blanket or like material. Pro- .jecting outwardly adjacent to these blanketsections are blades. or buckets 44. The relation between the elements is such that the .beltnot only passes through the tank, but

. also within the trough-channel which the tank currentis not suflicient to secure this belt travel, it may be produced by the rotation of one of therolls conveniently through a crank 45 attached thereto. To adjust the relation .betweenthe blanket-sections and the surface of thepulp in thetrough, the brackets 34 of the rolls may be mounted upon the tank by means of bolts 45, passing through elongated slots 45*. These enable the angular position of'the rolls to be varied, thus raising or lower- ,ing the underrun of the belt. Within the tank the weight of the belt is preferably carried to maintain it out of contact with the bottom by supporting-rods 46, extending from one end to the other. Lying transversely of the tank above the belt is a spraypipe 47, which may be connected with the supply-pipe 31 and having in it a valve 48. This spray-pipe delivers through perforations 49 jets of water a ainst the faces of the blanket-sections.which have previously been in contact with the pulp, thus washing the accumulated float metal into the tank. A shield 50 is shown as mounted upon the sides of the tank and extending across the pipe to prevent the spattering of the material under the impact of the jets. This shield may be secured in place by bolts 50 passing through elongated openings 50", this method of attachment allowing an adjustment of the shield to the position which proves most effective for the particular conditions of operation. The tank is shown as inclinedoppositely to the trough, and at its lower end is an outlet-opening 51, which may be guarded by a screen 52 to prevent the escape of float values. It delivers the tailings to a chute 53, extending to one side of the apparatus. Across the tank, adjacent to the outlet-opening, is a baffle-plate 54, which may be'bent to bring opposite ends into proximity with the bottom of the tank, thus leaving contracted openings 55, through which the discharge flow occurs. This tends to prevent the escape of the values With'the tailings, and the rounded top of the baflie-plate also acts as a support for the belt at this end of the tank. The tank may be provided at its bottom with a clean-out pipe 56, containing valve 57.

InYuse the clamps are at first so adjusted upon the frame that the first trough-section occupies a comparatively low position, the tackle of the standards being similarly adjusted to give the proper incline to the entire system. The pulp is now introduced through the chute 16 this delivering to one of the trough-channels over which the'float-metalsaving tank is positioned'by moving it upon its supporting-bars. The pulp'flows over the surface of the inverted riflles, the coarser values being caught by the wires of the upper screen and by the fibers of the intermediate layer, while the finerparticles, with a portion of the water, filter through the riffles into the space between them and the bottom of the tank. Here the values-settle to the'bottom, while the gangue from both the 'top and'bottom of the riifies tails off at the end ofthe trough. At suitable intervals the material accumulated at the end of the troughmay be withdrawn through the valve of the last section into the tank 29,'by which this portion of the concentrates is collected. During this operation the belt has'been travelingthrough the channellin use, operated either by the impulse of the water or by power, and catching inthe fibers of its sections the floating metal carries them into the tank, where they are washed off by the jets from the pipe 47. The sections then pass back into the trough to receive another "load. These float-concen- IlO trates settle in the tank and may be washed gagement therewith, and supports for the belt,

out, when desired, through the pipe 56 into a suitable receptacle. A portion of the values carried by the belt will pass into the rolls and be absorbed by their filling. At suitable intervals, as when a general clean-up of the apparatus is had, this filling may be removed and the values extracted in any suitable manner. I After a certain period of operation the trough-channel in use will have accumulated such a body of the concentrates upon the up per surface of its rifiile-sections that it will be necessary to remove them. The tank is now moved along its supporting-rods until its belt operates in the companion channel. The feed-chute is also directed into the same channel, thus allowing the process of concentration to continue uninterruptedly while the rifiles of the channel previously used are being cleaned. This may be effected by either washing them down with water flowing from one of the nozzles 31 or, if it is considered necessary, by removing them entirely. These concentrates maybe received by a suitable tank to be settled and later subjected to the'proper treatment to obtain the values. As the tailings accumulate upon the dump they will, if the land is somewhat level, rise so that they interfere with the discharge from the trough. At such times the first section of the tank may be raised upon the frame by moving its clamps along the uprights, and at the same time the additional sections may be adjusted to maintain the necessary inclination, thus bringing the discharge end of the last section so that it is clear of the gangue.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of flexible rifiie devices situated in the trough, and sheets of longitudinally-corrugated material arranged below the riffle devices and with which the said rif fie devices contact.

2. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of riffle devices situated in the trough, and comprising fibrous material and a screen on each side of the fibrous material, and sheets of corrugated material arranged below the rifile devices and with which the riffie devices engage, said corrugations extending longitudinally of the trough.

3. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of a tank above the trough, and a belt movable through the trough and tank and having sections of fibrous material secured to its outer face so as to lie in fiat engagement therewith.

4. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of a tank above the trough, a .belt movable through the trough and tank and having sections of fibrous material secured toits outer face so as to lie in fiat ensaid supports extending longitudinally of the tank above the bottom thereof.

5. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of ,a tank situated above the trough, a belt having sections of fibrous material on its outer side and movable through the trough and tank, and blades carried by the belt at the ends of the fibrous material and depending within the trough.

6. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough having a plurality of concentrating-channels, of a float-metal-saving device movably supported above the trough to permit it to be moved over either of the said channels.

7. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a frame, of a trough having a plurality of concentrating-channels, a tank adjustable laterally on the frame above the trough to enable it to overlie either channel, a roll at each end of the tank, and a belt passing over the rolls and through the tank and the underlying channel of the trough.

8. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a frame, of a trough having a plurality of concentrating channels mounted upon the frame, and a fioat-metalsaving device comprising a tankmovable upon the frame to lie over one or another of the channels and a belt adapted to travel through the tank and either of said channels.

9. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a trough, a tank above the trough, rolls at the ends of the tank, the rolls having hollow perforated bodies containing absorbent material, and a belt traveling over the said rolls and through the trough and tank, said belt having fibrous portions.

10. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a trough, a tank above the trough, a

roll at each end of the tank, a belt traveling over the rolls and through the trough and tank, said belt having fibrous portions, and a bafile-plate at the discharge end of the tank and serving as a support for the belt.

11. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a trough, a tank above the trough, a roll at each end of the tank, a belt having fibrous portions and ,traveling through the trough and tank, and an approximately inverted-U-shaped bafHe-plate at the discharge end of the tank with its ends terminating a $11011: distance above the bottom of the said tan 12. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a frame, of a trough vertically ad-' jus table on the frame, a tank vertically adjustable on the frame above the trough, an adjustable roll at each end of the tank, and a belt passing over the rolls and through the trough and tank.

13-. In an ore-concentrator, the combination with a trough, of a plurality of rifiie devices arranged inthe trough; the riflie devices I name tothis specification in the presence of comprisling spaced scfiecn material and fibrous two subscribing Witnesses. materia between t e screen materia sundry of theriffle devices having a sheet oflon- Z PENTON HARDWIOK' 5 gitudinally-c0rrugated material below the Witnesses:

lowermost screen material. WILLIAM E. WEEKS,

In testimonywhereof I have signed my R. H. I LEE. 

